Transcription

1 Hanukah 5771/ 2010 Jewish Festival of Lights by Rabbi Harley Karz-Wagman, Mt Sinai Congregation, Cheyenne, Wyoming On Wednesday, December 1 just before sundown, Jewish families around the world will light the first Hanukah candle, chanting blessings over their Menorahs (candle holders) at home and in Synagogues. The next night, they will light two candles, and then add another candle each night, until they light eight on the eighth night. The nightly celebration features games, especially spinning the dreidel, songs, story telling, and food, especially latkes (potato pancakes). The origins of these practices are described later. Kids, and even adults, exchange gifts, and everyone gives to tzedakah (charity). Many families add acts of community service. I suggest a new ritual, the 8 Sites of Hanukah. Each night, visit a web site for a good cause. Then, learn, give money, and/or advocate for that cause. Of all Jewish rituals, Hanukah candle lighting is one of the most commonly practiced, among American Jews. Why is this celebration so popular? The reason for this season is not a Jewish version of Christmas. Rather, Hanukah celebrates: religious freedom and pride; the triumph of right over might; the recognition of God s presence in our lives; and a family response to the start of winter. This article will tell the story of the Maccabees and then describe how human and Divine actions led to today s partying, with games and songs and food and gifts. Hanukah (dozens of English spellings of Chanukah are acceptable) does overlap with Christmas. Both are responses to December, a dark and cold season. Plus, if the Maccabees had not saved Judaism from perishing, about two centuries before the time of Jesus, then no Jewish community would have existed as the base, from which Christianity developed. The Story: About 2,200 years ago, the Greek Empire was divided into Greek, Syrian, and Egyptian sections, with the Syrians controlling the Jewish state of Judea, the area now called Israel. The Syrian/Greek King, Antiochus, ordered the Jews to give up Judaism and become Greek, eating non-kosher foods, desecrating the holy Sabbath, and worshipping idols.

2 2 A small group of Jewish farmers, called the Maccabees, led a multi-year guerilla war against the Syrian/Greek forces, driving out a much larger army and gaining political and religious freedom, especially control of the central Temple, in Jerusalem. The dedication ( hanukah ) of the Temple triggered an annual celebration on the 25 th of the Jewish month of Kislev, this year starting at sundown, December 1. The human role: The military triumph of the small band of Maccabees has inspired fighters for religious freedom, and political freedom, over the centuries. A statue of Judah, the leader, stands at West Point today. The Maccabees became a model for modern Israel, assailed by much greater forces throughout its 60 year history. The Maccabees inspire all who seek religious freedom, an ongoing struggle throughout the world, even in America, for peoples and for individuals. The bravery, faith, persistence, and cleverness of these warriors are celebrated in the Hanukah song, Mi Yemaleil ( Who Can Retell ), which starts: Who can retell the things that befell us (the Jews), who can count them? In every age, a hero or sage came to our aid. The Divine role: Where is God in this story? Many Jews understand the Maccabees triumph came not by might, and not by power, but by (the Divine inner) spirit. (from the prophet, Ezekiel). Power - whether military, economic, spiritual, or political need not lead to evil. Yet, power tends to be abused. All power leads to some corruption (the use of power to control an unfair share of resources). Ultimately, our freedom, as well as our success in finding meaning in life, depends upon our spirit, our power to control corruption. The oil story shows how we can recognize God s presence. When the Maccabees sought to dedicate the Temple in Jerusalem, they needed special oil to light the central lamp, which symbolizes God s connection with our lives. Every Jewish synagogue, today, burns an eternal light. The Maccabees needed over a week to prepare this oil, yet could find only one day s supply, after they drove out the Greeks. In what many see as a miracle, the tiny bit of oil lasted eight days. 2

3 3 We might learn that our own power for good is greater than first appears to us. If we start to work on a good cause, although our resources may feel inadequate, we will find additional resources along the way. Some call this recognizing God s presence in our lives and in our world. The Maccabees showed a similar faith, by starting their war for freedom, despite overwhelming forces against them. Jews commemorate and publicize this miracle, by lighting the Hanukah Menorah (candle holder) for eight nights. Families play dreidel, a spinning top with four sides. Each side has a Hebrew letter, standing for a word in the phrase, a great miracle happened there. Israeli dreidels say: a great miracle happened here. The dreidel game involves gambling, with the spinner either adding to the pot or taking from the pot, depending on which letter lands on top. The pot is usually chocolate coins ( gelt ), but can be real money. If so, all the money goes to tzedakah (charity). Every Jewish holiday, even the weekly one, Shabbat (the Sabbath), is an occasion for helping the less fortunate. The miracle of the oil also led to the culinary treat of latkes, potato pancakes, because they are cooked in oil. Latkes are usually eaten with applesauce, or sour cream. Latkes are the custom of most American Jews, whose families are Ashkenazic (European). Sephardic/ Mizrachi Jews (from Middle Eastern countries) eat a ritual food, cooked in oil, called sufganiyot, which look like jelly donuts, without holes. A popular Hanukah song, Maoz Tzur, focuses on God s central role in the Maccabean victory. The words are well known, mostly by an English translation, Rock of Ages. The song concludes: and Thy word broke their sword, when our own strength failed us. Hanukah today celebrates both the human and the Divine roles in the partnership between us. This partnership has a mission, which Jews call tikkun olam, repairing the world, in other words, transforming our world from how it is towards how it should be. 3

4 4 As we approach the darkest days of our year, as we begin the coldest season of the year, Jews observe Hanukah, a re-dedication to our partnership s mission, a partnership with God, which is available to all peoples. We feel the warmth of the candles, see the brightness of freedom and insight, and hear the songs of faith, liberation, and peace. A recent song, Light One Candle, by Peter Yarrow (of Peter, Paul, and Mary) captures the Hanukah spirit. The first verse is: Light one candle for the Maccabee children. Give thanks that their light didn t die. Light one candle for the pain they endured, when their right to exist was denied. Light one candle for the terrible sacrifice justice and freedom demand. Light one candle for the wisdom to know, when the peace maker s time is at hand. Hanukah and our current Culture: From another perspective, the Maccabees dedication ( hanukah ) of the Temple in Jerusalem can symbolize a successful battle to assert the best of Jewish values (shared by Christians and many others) in place of the worst of the dominant Greek (Hellenistic) values of their time. Miraculously, a leading faction of Jews (the Maccabees and their followers) persistently resisted the powerful, apparently overwhelming, Greek cultural trends, which many Jews choose to follow. The Greek culture, whose domination the Maccabees rejected, forms the historical basis of our current Western/ American culture. Part of our culture brings wonders -- calling us to technological innovation, artistic creation, philosophical inquiry, individual freedom, and economic enterprise. Certain American trends (based not on what we claim to believe, but on how we live) run counter to our Jewish tradition (and counter to the values of most Christians and other Americans). These include: (1) alienation (isolation and loneliness); (2) material indulgence (not too subtle, each December); (3) a sense of emptiness (life is meaningless); (4) isolationism (suffering by others, by those who are not us, does not matter); and (5) despair (things will inevitably get worse). All of these result, when our fears override our love. The Maccabees symbolize resistance to those trends. 4

5 5 Hanukah calls us to dedicate (that s what Hanukah means) our lives to God s values, to assert our love, in control of our fears. That would lead to these counter- trends: (1) community (based on covenant, that is, our partnership, with God, to create a more ideal world, out of what we have); (2) holiness (to live by Godly values, such as increasing freedom, justice/fairness, mercy, comfort, beauty, and peace, as well as create relationships, based on respect, trust, responsibility, and commitment to higher missions); (3) the infinite value of each human life (because we can achieve #1 and #2); (4) the holy potential for goodness of all individuals, no matter where they live and no matter what group (ethnic, faith, culture) they claim as theirs; and (5) hope, that despite the tragic lessons of history, the opposite of God s values (see #2) need not continue, that we can change. When we resist the Greek trends and dedicate to God s loving values, we become Maccabean, that is, heroic. We see many individuals, Jews and others, who perform these heroic tasks instinctively, without recognizing how heroic they are. They care for others. They search our Torah (not just the book, but our entire tradition and all sources of learning, including our own experiences) or other sources for a life of meaning. They battle injustice, suffering, abuse, and conflict. They fight globally, and locally. We become heroic by recognizing the miracles in our world. The story of the oil lasting eight days was not told until centuries after the Maccabees (in the Talmud, under the Roman Empire). However long we take to notice miracles, when we do, we gain the power to act as heroes. A miracle need not be understood as an event, which runs counter to the laws of nature. A miracle may be our ability to comprehend natural laws, bringing us the modern medicine and communication. A miracle may be our ability to save our global environment, despite centuries of greedy exploitation. A miracle may be our ability to rise above our natural instincts, to transcend trends in our society (such as the 5 listed above) and to find a life of holiness. 5

6 6 Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel taught (50 years ago, at the dawn of the information age ) that we do not lack information. We lack appreciation, the ability to notice what has true value. Many Americans, miraculously, have begun pursuing new paths to spiritually fulfilling lives. The trend might be called chanukat hamakom, dedication to finding God in all places. Our challenge is: will we join that trend, and become Maccabees? Connecting with family at the start of winter: Chanukah starts early some years, or one could say, December comes late. Chanukah always falls on the 25 th of the Jewish month of Kislev, which occurs on or near the winter solstice, a time when the earth becomes a role model for us. Externally, nothing seems to grow, darkness lasts its longest hours, and the air starts feeling colder. Internally, however, trees and plants are adjusting, preparing for next year s growth. The longest night means that the future holds more and more light. Cold need not depress us. Cold can stimulate. We can join with our families to light candles, cook with oil (symbol of God s presence, our Source of hope and love), exchange gifts of love, share inspiring stories and music, and perform acts of caring for others. We can direct our lives to internal growth, resisting the external appearances of a cold and dark world of isolation and materialism. A Jewish myth envisions each person as a candle of God. When we light and display the Menorah, we make public our recognition of our Divine inner light. Each night, we add a new candle, symbolically adding our light to the light of others, leading to a more enlightened world. Happy Hanukah. Rabbi Harley Karz-Wagman For questions, call office: ; cell: or to: 6

1 Sermon Shabbat Chanukah December 7, 2012 Rabbi David Lipper Don t let the lights go out! I have Chanukah on the brain. And while I always talk on Friday night about the Torah portion of the week, this

Hanukkah and Christmas What s the Difference? The month of December is an exciting one. For many people, it the celebration of their faith. Christmas is a Christian celebration. December 25 th represents

The Story of Hanukkah INTRODUCTION Overview: The most commonly known aspects of the story of Hanukkah are probably the Maccabean heroes and the miraculous Temple oil that burned for eight nights instead

igniting your shabbat services Shabbat Chanukah HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE Hello and welcome to Spark! Spark is a new idea from Tribe, aimed at facilitating the smooth running of Toddlers Services, Children

Leading up to the New Testament In this lesson, we will look at the history of Israel. We will also pay attention to the growing Jewish expectation for coming of a Messiah and developments in the Jewish

Mission and Service Candle-Lighting Services for Worship and Home Introduction Here are two ideas for Advent candle-lighting: one for worship services and one to be used at home by your church families.

s Lord, let us not dwell in the past, nor worry about the future. We cannot undo what is done. We cannot foresee what will come. Let us instead dwell in your peace, love and be loved, heal and be healed.

Holy Scripture: God Reveals Himself o His People Lesson # 15 of 27 Scripture/Memory Verse All Scripture is inspire by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness

CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS A tradition is a way of doing things in a family or a culture that is passed down through generations. Tradition is an important part of identity. There are different traditions for

Hanukkah: The Thin Grey Line Rev. Sharon Dittmar First Unitarian Church of Cincinnati 536 Linton Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45219 513.281.1564 December 1, 2013 They, [the Jews] were so very glad at the revival

MEDITATIONS FOR PENTECOST 7 Isaiah 66:10-14 Jerusalem has been around for a long time. The name of the city first appears in Egyptian texts some 1900 years before the birth of Jesus. The name Jerusalem

18 Who Jesus Is LESSON 1 Finding Out About Jesus Who do you think Jesus is? Some people say He was a great teacher. Others say He was a prophet, a philosopher, a Western god, or a good man whose example

Acts: Seeing the Spirit at Work Sunday Morning Bible Study Lesson Three Acts 3:1-4:31 Jesus has returned to heaven before the very eyes of the astounded disciples. Matthias has been chosen to replace Judas.

THE ROAD TO EMMAUS (B.1.SPRING.10) Biblical Reference Luke 24:13-35 Key Verse Luke 24:34, John 8:58 Key Concept By faith I believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Educational Objectives At the end

A Parent s Guide to CHANUKAH JEWISHNESS First Night Though Chanukah is regarded by our tradition as a minor holiday, its importance has never been slighted. The Maccabees proved to the world their allegiance

JOURNAL SEASON ONE INTRODUCTION In The King of Kings we are going to open the books of 1 and 2 Samuel and discover the rise of a king and the fall of a man. The story of David is one of humility, faith

Lesson 12 Our Relationship to God We have learned that our main responsibility as Christian believers is to love God. As we studied in Lesson 11, we keep His commandments because we love Him. So, our relationship

The PastoralPlanning.com Bible Study in Plain English Session Six: Amos to Habukkuk Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, Micah, Nahum, Zephaniah & Habukkuk Lots of prophets. There were many prophets in the Hebrew Scriptures.

PEOPLE IN GOD S KINGDOM ARE BLESSED (B.2.WINTER.2) Biblical Reference Matthew 5:1-6 Key Verse Matthew 5:6 Key Concept If I belong to the kingdom of God I am blessed. Educational Objectives At the end of

Lighting the Advent Wreath Advent comes from the Latin word 'adventus' meaning 'Coming.' Advent begins the church year starting four Sundays before Christmas. The season of Advent has been set aside as

11 Easy Reading Edition September 4 10 The Choice of Grace 1 SABBATH SEPTEMBER 4 READ FOR THIS WEEK S LESSON: Romans 10; Romans 11. MEMORY VERSE: So here is what I ask. Did God turn his back on his people?

RWS #106, Our Mighty God... 12. Choose You This Day Joshua 23-24 Joshua was a good example. He put God first in his life. When Joshua died at the age of 110, he was called the servant of the Lord (Joshua

88 SESSION 25 (A) CHANGESHANGES (A) Lesson Plan INTRODUCTION (5 MINUTES) Today we re going to take a look at the final attribute of God s character in this study. In today s session, we will discover that

Hanukkah What is Hanukkah? In the Talmud a Rabbi asks, "What is Hanukkah?" Strange that a Rabbi should ask this. Of all the Jewish festivals, only Hanukkah and one other holiday Purim are post-biblical;

CHAPTER 21 Additional Eucharistic Prayers A Form for Ordering the Eucharist (pages 511-514) provides a form which may be used in writing and adapting eucharistic prayers. Because they follow the framework

The Lord is here. God s Spirit is with us. Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord. Schedule 3 Alternative Great Thanksgivings Alternative Great Thanksgiving A (alternative to Thanksgiving of the

1 PRE-TEST Directions: Fill in the blank with the correct answer: 1. After World War II, Jews from all over the world moved to the state of. 2. The is made up of the first five books of the Old Testament.

God s Mission for My Life: Rick Warren: Principal #5 Jesus: In the same way that you gave me a mission in the world, I give them a mission in the world. John 17:18 (The Message) The most important thing

Turning Point Church 8/21/16 INTRO: EVERY GENERATION HAS A MISSION Matthew 28:16-20 (NIV) 16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw

KEY QUESTIONS Lesson 1 - Creation and the Environment What do you like/dislike about your environment? How would you care for... e.g. a friend, a pet? What makes a person/thing special? What does the Bible

Grafted In Romans Series Part 3: Everyone Invited New Life Assembly Romans 11:11-32 October 2, 2011 AM Main Sermon Idea: Everyone must come to Christ through His mercy. Introduction Today we complete our

THE TRIAL (B.1.SPRING.7) Biblical Reference Matthew 26:57-27:26 Key Verse Isaiah 53:8, John 10:9 Key Concept Jesus didn t fight back because he was willing to die for the salvation of the world. Educational

9 KING DAVID & KING SOLOMON The Davidic Covenant Solomon Builds the Temple & Blesses the Nations 1 Teacher s Notes Scripture 2 Samuel 7, I Kings 6 10 Objectives To explain that Our lessons are all a part

When Did Miracles Cease? - 1 Introduction: 1. Have you ever heard someone say it s a miracle!? a. This has become a cliché, a phrase which someone uses in order to convey that they didn t think a certain

UNIT B YEAR 4 JESUS TEACHES US HOW TO PRAY JESUS TEACHES US HOW TO PRAY A B O U T T H E U N I T In this unit the children will learn about the prayer life of Jesus as he grew up in the Jewish faith. The

: Acts 1:1-11 Keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing with needs! Start by stating: Sometimes it is easy to completely miss the main point. Acts 1:1-11 Acts 1:1-11 This is the story of Jesus last moments

May 19, 2013 The Fullness of the Spirit John 14:8-17, 25-27 8 Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied." 9 Jesus replied, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you

BIBLE CHARACTER STUDIES SESSION ONE DEVELOPING CHRISTIAN CHARACTER THROUGH STUDYING GOD S WORD God gave you His Word, the Bible, so that He can have a personal relationship with you. As you get to know

Shabbat - The Jewish Holy Day In the Jewish calendar most of the days of the week do not have names, they are simply known as the First Day (Sunday), the Second Day, and so on. The seventh day (Saturday)

Celebrate ( Hanukkah! The Hanukkah ~ Christmas Connection Hanukkah originated over 150 years before Yeshua (Jesus) was born. God s people, the Jewish people had fallen to hard times, a clear warning that

Sermon for Christmas Eve Christmas Means Your Savior Is Born Luke 2:10-11 12/24/14b Then the angel said to them, Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all

STUDY GUIDE AND STUDY QUESTIONS FOR EZRA Historical Time and Background for Ezra This historical book of Ezra covers the beginning of what is called the Post-Exillic period of Israel s history. It is also

(from 2008 preliminary minutes page 183) CATECHISM (adopted 2008) FOR CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CONFESSION OF FAITH 1. Who is God? God is the one living, active Creator of all that is, seen and unseen. 2.

Ordinary Moments of Grace To everything there is a time and a season for every purpose under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to sow and a time to reap. A time to laugh and a time to

BASIC PRAYER Watch Video 1, Anytime, Anywhere. SESSION ONE TALKING WITH YOUR FATHER As you grow as a Christian, prayer will become an important part of your everyday life. Jesus Himself often prayed. The

Exploring Acts The Continuing Ministry of Jesus Christ Through the Holy Spirit Lesson 9 Day One: The Conversion of the Gentiles Nearly ten years had passed since Pentecost. Peter had been God s instrument

THE TRIUMPHANT ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM (B.1.SPRING.2) Biblical Reference Matthew 21:1-11 Key Verse John 8:23 Key Concept Jesus is King of kings. He invites me to be a part of his kingdom and follow him confidently.

WHAT EVERY CHRISTIAN NEEDS TO KNOW Lesson 22 The Spiritual Life Six Components of the Christian Life INTRODUCTION In today s lesson along with last week s lesson we are focusing on the practical aspects

PRESIDER S TEXT: OPENING PRAYER INTRODUCTORY RITE HYMN As We Gather at Your Table GREETING In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. The Lord be with you. And also with you. INTRODUCTION

Session 3 THE MASS The Liturgy of the Eucharist: The Preparation of the Gifts and Eucharistic Prayer Introductory Rites Liturgy of the Word Liturgy of the Eucharist Concluding Rites A. Preparation of the

The Ark of the Covenant 10 Minute Bible History The Presence of God The Ark of the Covenant is one of the greatest mysteries the world has ever known. But what was it? Did it wield unstoppable power to

To those we love and see each day and other loved ones far away To all good friends who mean so much, and those with whom we're are of touch... Merry Christmas and best wishes for a happy New Year. The

Station #1: Introduction to Judaism Judaism is a diverse religion and way of life that originated with the Hebrew people of the Middle East and has strong links to ethnicity. It is based on three components:

ISAIAH 62 PRAYER INITIATIVE August 2016 Prayer Letter Dear Prayer Partners, Isn t it amazing that God says we can ask of Him and He will hear us? (Mark 11:24) Though we are mere human beings, we have this

THE ETERNAL GOD IN THE MIDST OF HIS PEOPLE Exodus 25:8-9 INTRODUCTION: The God of Israel is the God who dwelt in the tabernacle in the midst of His people. The God of Israel is the God and Father of our

TELLING YOUR FAITH STORY USING A BIBLE STORY Learn how to share your testimony using a Biblical story that will allow you to share the Gospel with those who have never heard. Let s learn how to share your

Walking With The Characters Of Christmas Wise Men: Genuine Seekers of Jesus (Part 5) Intro: The first of the year usually marks the beginning of something I just love to pursue winter steelhead. Now, in

Series: Freedom From Your Fears - Part 7 of 10 Proverbs 29:25 Fear of man is a dangerous trap, but to trust in God means safety. (Living Bible) INTRODUCTION Today we're looking at the Fear of Rejection.

Bible Studies REFUGEES Written by Marike Blok Presented to the organizations working together in the Relief Fund Refugees: 1 Introduction Worldwide there are more than 60 million refugees today. Many of

Dealing with Stress the Jewish Way A lecture by Edward Hoffman, Ph.D., given at the San Francisco Jewish Community Center on Feb. 8, 1988 By Jennie Cohen The following list offers Jewish beliefs, customs

The Protestant Reformation occurred in 16th-century Europe because of widespread dissatisfaction with the Roman Catholic Church. Up to that point, Catholicism was the primary Christian religion. The Reformation

The Wilderness Wanderings The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. (Exodus 34:6) Are we there yet? Not quite... but the Israelites

Reality 2: God Pursues a Continuing Love Relationship with You that is Real and Personal Reality 2: God Pursues a Continuing Love Relationship with You that is Real and Personal Created for a Love Relationship

The Mystery of Peace Season 2 Episode 11 INTRODUCTION: The prophets of the Bible prophesied that in the last days people would cry out for peace. The Apostle James wrote that war comes from a lack of godliness

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 1 Christ Rejected by His Own People John 12:37-50 http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 2 Text: John 12:37-50, Christ Rejected by His Own People 37. But though he had done

How to Create a Culture of Generosity in Your Church A Stewardship & Generosity Resource STEWARDSHIP COMMISSION Leading your congregation in responding to the word of God with generosity doesn t happen

Whereas I was Blind, Now I See John 9: 1-11; 25 We all know that great hymn well: Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me; I once was lost, but now I m found; was blind, but now